SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly remains a top contender in the national rankings of architecture and design programs identified in the DesignIntelligence annual survey.

DesignIntelligence, a bi-monthly report by the Design Futures Council, recently published its 2013 edition of America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools, which ranks Cal Poly’s architecture program fifth in the nation’s top 20 leading undergraduate programs. Cornell University ranks first and Southern California Institute of Architecture, second, while Rice and Syracuse universities tie for third.

In regional rankings, Cal Poly’s architecture program is second overall in top schools in the West, behind Southern California Institute of Architecture. Architecture firms in the West put Cal Poly in first place.

Cal Poly’s landscape architecture program is tied with Purdue University and University of Georgia for seventh in the nation among undergraduate programs. Louisiana State ranked first, followed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Pennsylvania State, Kansas State, Texas A&M, and Cornell University, respectively.

“It is very gratifying to again have such strong validation of the excellence of our Architecture and Landscape Architecture programs from peer institutions and administrators, professional firms across America and perhaps most importantly, from the students that we all serve,” said K. Richard Zweifel, associate dean of Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design. “We are extremely proud of the faculty and staff for their expertise and success in preparing graduates for leadership roles in these disciplines.”

DesignIntelligence is a global network of design industry professionals that focuses on international trends, challenges and opportunities in architecture, design, building and the environment. The results of America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013 are derived from more than 2,800 student surveys, 392 industry practitioners, and 351 deans and academic program chairs who review their own and peer institutions.